Donate today to keep Global Voices strong!

Our global community of volunteers work hard every day to bring you the world's underreported stories -- but we can't do it without your help. Support our editors, technology, and advocacy campaigns with a donation to Global Voices!

When the collapse occurred, the first thing the miners tried [to do] was to ascend though a ladder inside a ventilation shaft that was –supposedly- the emergency exit of the mine. Yet they discovered that the ladder only existed in part of the path and had to abort their attempt to get out. Later the entire shaft collapsed and there was no possibility of using it.

At 22:05, Luis Urzúa, the boss who had a 70-day shift, was the last to reach the surface, overflowing with emotions a country that stayed waiting day and night for this moment that finally –after two months- ended.

Before the rescue, Enzo Abbagliati wrote in El Quinto Poder [es] (The Fifth Power) about how the story would be told in the future. He divided this story in chapters. About the last possible chapter of the story, he said [es]:

But the most important lesson will be in the final chapter, where after emotions cool off, an entire country […] did the job that was required: to reform the bases of a development model that allowed for the profiting of some over the lives of many [;a model] in which unbounded wealth coexisted with profound shortages [or a lack of something].

With regard to safety in the workplace, Andrea (@gatulilla) warned that:

I agree with the quote from El Quinto Poder; the story will really have a happy ending when miners in Chile receive the treatment and protection they need and deserve in the workplace. Let’s not forget that they produce almost 40% of Chile’s GDP. They pay for Chile’s prosperity and now Chile needs to pay all miners back, not only the 33 rescued miners, but every miner.